Crystal's One Night of Love

In the cloak of the night, nestled in the narrow alley, stood an age-worn dwelling.

Henry’s gaze was fixated on his younger sister, who he had doted on for many years. He examined her attire, plain to the point of austerity, and the crumbling structure that served as her shelter.

His eyes throbbed with a sting that could not be suppressed, and the fingers that clutched his cigarette trembled subtly.

Taking a deep drag of his cigarette, he stepped inside the place and scanned around. “Where’s the kid?”

Melora was taken aback. “Has Crystal told you?”

Henry responded in a helpless tone, “Do you expect her to help you keep it a secret and watch as you continue living in this squalor? Whose child is it?”

Up until that moment, he was truly oblivious to the identity of the child’s father.

Melora wouldn’t let him in the room.

Henry extinguished his cigarette, exhaling the last puff of smoke. “Who is it?”

No matter who the father was, he wanted to beat him up so badly and break his teeth.

Melora blocked the door, pleading in a hushed voice, “Berthold and I are doing fine. Henry, I can support him on my own. Please don’t ask anymore!”

Henry’s eyes reddened.

He was but half a step away from her. With an outstretched arm, he pulled her to the side and entered the room.

The bedroom was of meager proportion, not even covering ten square meters.

An aged bed and a tiny desk housing several dozen magazines was all it contained.

Henry flicked through the trashy magazines, all showcasing Melora on the cover, the young lady of the Miller family.

He swallowed hard, making his way toward the old bed.

On it, lay a small child, slumbering peacefully.

His skin was fair, and he had a full head of dark brown hair.

Henry’s eyes turned bloodshot at the familiar eyes and unique hair color.

He no longer needed to ask Melora who the father was, as there was no need to do so anymore!

Henry whirled around, his eyes burning holes into his little sister.

Melora’s lips quivered, and her face contorted in distress as she pleaded, “Henry, don’t look for him! Don’t… I’ve broken up with him.”

Henry reached out, tenderly touching the little boy.

He paused and asked gently, “Him? Which him? Melora, tell me.”

Melora covered her mouth in shock.

It dawned on her that Henry must have realized who the father was.

Henry’s voice was dangerously low as he said, “When did you two become a thing? Do you understand what you’re doing? He’s at least ten years older than you. A man of his stature, in his forties and still unmarried, has had his share of meeting women from all walks of life, so why would he be attracted to a greenhorn like you?”

Melora was crushed.

She knew she had been punching above her weight.

Henry didn’t ask anymore. He took off his coat, put it on little Berthold, and gently lifted.

“Henry!” Melora clutched his arm, begging.

In the dim light, Henry’s expression was as calm as still water. “Either you come home with me now, or I call Alfred to pick you and your son up. You decide.”

Melora had no choice.

She packed some clothes and followed Henry.

the stairs, Berthold

of fear in his expression,

head, assuring gently, “I am your uncle.

relaxed, closing his

ached as he delicately placed the little boy into

into the car, murmuring, “Could you not

“You’re afraid now?”

the car door. He made his way around the front of the car and got in. He was infuriated and wanted

a long silence, he gently stepped

slowly pulled into the

Crystal for she had her own worries. The sound of the opening. and closing of the

in the stairwell, she saw Henry holding Berthold, with Melora

for

in a hushed tone. “Let Berthold sleep with Skyler tonight. You go and

Crystal nodded.

staircase again, she opened the

in his arms, Henry entered, gingerly tucking the tiny boy into

had been too long, for the child drifted off

just a sliver, her eyes cracking open into slits before she rolled over, pulling Berthold

were

felt his heart

caressed Skyler’s head and patted Berthold. “This child takes after his

her guilt on her

tender voice. “You must have figured out who

words came out more vulgar than he

said softly, “Don’t let the children

fierce glare, but times had

was once frightened now wore an armor of courage. “Don’t take your anger out on me,” she warned him boldly

tense look

hand. “Stay with Melora. I’ll head to the study for

agreed with

between them, grievances yet addressed. Yet, when faced with the situations at home, they instinctively

I am Melora’s brother, and Crystal

led Melora to the guest room. Softly, she began, “Don’t mind your brother’s Let’s freshen up first. Let me prepare some snacks for you- your favorite

Crystal was about to

emotion washed over her

“You should have come

out in a soft voice,

and said, “I’ll go prepare something for us to eat. You take a

Melora nodded.

snack. By the time everything

her own cotton pajamas, the kind where the vibrant colors

Crystal noticed.

tremble in her voice, “Come and eat. Everything here

and began

before, she was silent, no longer the chatterbox who couldn’t stop talking like a print

simply kept her

Melora’s eyes were filled with tears. “Crystal, I’m scared. He couldn’t marry me back then,

could she

the past two years, she had single-handedly raised their child, living a tough life worrying about sustenance like milk powder and

had shared good times together. However, they were swept away by the winds of

He was still the dignified

had lost her youthful radiance.

Crystal said, “Your brother will, after all, need to vent his anger. But he would

poor girl nodded

Crystal went to see Henry in

The room was dim, save for

him was filled

door behind her, walked to the window, and

“You’re smoking too much!

watched her

as Crystal voluntarily approached him, sat on his lap, and

cigarette and leaned

spoke in a hoarse whisper, “Crystal, have I failed? If I hadn’t insisted on going to Kingdom of Brundela back then, your uncle and Melora may not have had the chance to get together. Those days Alfred spent in the hospital must have been